Moviegoers are excitedly waiting for Wes Anderson’s upcoming film, Asteroid City. The filmmaker is known for his vintage style, witty humor, and peculiar characters, which have garnered him a devoted fan base. His followers can’t wait to see what he has in store with his latest creation.
The latest movie from Anderson is a blend of comedy and drama that will be released in Singapore this coming Thursday. It features his trademark ensemble cast, with 21 big-name actors squeezed into the movie poster. The film stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Edward Norton in leading roles, while Margot Robbie and Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson make cameo appearances. The story is set in a futuristic version of the 1950s, where a father mourning the loss of his wife takes his kids to a star-gazing event in Asteroid City, a small desert town well-known for its enormous meteor crater.
The whole town went into lockdown when an extraterrestrial being made an appearance. Recently, during a virtual press conference, Brody, Hanks, and Johansson shared their experiences of working with Anderson, who is 54 years old. Anderson has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture for his exceptional work on The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2014, and he usually collaborates with the same actors. Johansson, who is 38 years old, believes that Anderson’s unique bond with his actors is what makes his projects stand out from others.
The renowned American actress, well-known for her appearances in Marvel superhero flicks such as Black Widow (2021) and her remarkable performances in Marriage Story (2019) and Jojo Rabbit (2019), commends the exceptional acting demonstrated in the film. She expresses her admiration for how every actor’s depiction is unique, yet seamlessly contributes to the overall masterpiece. In the movie, Johansson plays Midge, an actress who befriends a grieving father named Augie (Schwartzman). Anderson’s sets are unlike other film productions, where actors might experience boredom during intervals, as they maintain a lively ambiance, eliminating any self-doubt about one’s professional choices.
As per the cast members of the movie, it exudes an energy and vibrancy that is hard to miss. Tom Hanks, who depicts the character of Stanley, Augie’s father-in-law, opines that the movie carries the charm of classic Hollywood films set on studio lots where cowboys, showgirls, and Roman gladiators all coexist. The award-winning actor, who has received critical acclaim for his roles in movies like Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, describes the set as focused and disciplined, with everyone donning their costumes and ready to act. Adrien Brody, who plays the director of the play based on Asteroid City, has previously collaborated with Anderson on four other movies, including The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch.
While shooting a movie in the United States and Spain, the entire cast and crew shared a unique daily routine. Living in the same hotel, some of them would ride around town on a golf cart driven by the director, Wes, still wearing their character costumes. It was quite a sight to see an alien, cowboy, or group of kids hanging off the back of the cart as they went about their day. For one cast member, a 50-year-old American who had previously won an Oscar for his role in The Pianist, the filming experience was unforgettable and exhilarating. The final cut of the movie showcased the breathtaking set that they had worked so hard to create.
At first, some of the actors working on Wes Anderson’s latest movie were hesitant to share their input with him due to his reputation for being extremely detail-oriented. Tom Hanks, a newcomer to Anderson’s team, sought advice from more experienced cast members who reassured him that Anderson values his actors’ suggestions. To Hanks’ delight, Anderson even incorporated one of his ideas into the first scene they shot together. Although the set had a pleasant atmosphere, Anderson’s perfectionism was evident in the number of takes he required to achieve his desired outcome. Unlike other directors who might settle for take 3, Anderson prefers up to 60 takes to achieve his vision. The film is called Asteroid City and will be in theaters this Thursday.